Headlight



Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,236.

-' A. C. WOODRUFF.

HEADLIGHT. mzp MAR. 11. 1922. 2 sums-sum 1.

- WITNESSES IIVVENIOR ACWoodrufj er Z I ATTORNEYS Patented Folio 2U, lfidt HEADLIGF'T.

Application filed March 11, 1922. Serial No. 542,836.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, ALVIE G. Weonnnrr, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregonhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Headlights, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dirigible head lights especially adapted foruse on motor vehicles.

An important object of this invention is to provide a dirigibleheadlight having simple means whereby the same may be caused to turn tocorrespond to the movement of the front wheels of the vehicle so thatthe rays from the headlights are properly positioned with relation tothe move ment of the motor vehicle.

Also an important object is to provide a dirigible headlight havingsimple means whereby the same may be moved about a horizontal axis sothat the light rays may be directed immediately in front of the vehicleto act as a dimmer whereby the drivers of approaching vehicles are notblinded by the headlights.

A further object is to provide a dirigiblc headlight which may beapplied to a vehicle either during the course of manufacture or. at anytime thereafter without materially altering the construction of thesame.

Further the invention aims to provide a dirigible headlight which is ofhighly simplified construction reliable in use and cheap to manufacture.I

Uther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective illustrating the invention in use.

Figure 2-is a plan view of a pair of the improved dirigible headlightsapplied.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the improved headlights applied.I

Figure 4 is a group perspective of one of the supporting means for theheadlights.

. Figure 5 is a' detail sectional view illustrating the means formanually adjusting the headlights about a horizontal axis.

Figure 6 is a group perspective illustrating the means to connect theheadli hts with the adjusting means therefor.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a modification of theinvention.

Figure is a perspective of a support shown in Figure 7.

l n the drawing the numeral 5 designates the frame of a motor vehicle,said motor vehicle being designated by the numeral 6 and being of anydesired type. The supporting arms 7 of the fenders 8 constitute a meansfor supporting the improved headlights and the elongated bearing 9 ofeach headlight is provided with a rearwardlv directed portions of theadjacent arm 7 by means of bolts or other fastening devices 11.

The attaching portion 14 of each headlight fork is of tubular formationand is rotatably extended through the relatively stationary bearing 9.lWit-h reference to 'i igure 3 it will be observed that the tubularportion 14 of each headlight fork terminates below the bearing 9 and isengaged by a split collar 15 having its ends formed with apertured cars16 for the reception of fastening devices 17. The split collar lfi notonlyserves as a means for limiting the up ward movement of the headlightfork but alsoserves as a means to clamp the split tubular portion 14securely in engagement with the operating shaft 18, which extendsthrough the tubular portion.

The operating shaft 18 is extended upwardly through the tubular portion1a and is securely connected to the tubular portion by means of theclamping collar 15 so that when the shaft is rotated the headlight forkwill also be rotated whereby to cause the headlight 20 to turn either tothe right or left.

The tubular portion 14.- of each headlight fork has its upper portionprovided with branches 22 between which the headlight is arranged andpivot elements 23 connect the terminal portions of the branchesfig tothe headlight so as to permit the headlight to car 10 secured to theintermediate be swung about a horizontal axis for directing raysdownwardly immediately in front of the vehicle or forwardly for asubstantlal distance.

i to provide attaching members 28 which pivoted to the upper and thearms 26.

As illustrated in Figure 1, one of the arms 26 is extended beyond thelink if and. is

lower sides of formed with a spherical head 30 connected to the steer ngapparatus by means of a rod 32. Qf course the ball and socket ointbetween the arm 26 and the link 32 perm ts the link 32 to partake of alongitudinal movement and a slight lateral movement during thcoperationof the steering mechanisni. It will be seen that the attaching link orrod 32 18 connected to the transversely ext ending steering rod 34 ofthe steering apparatus as indicated at 36.

In the operation of the improved dirigible headlight themovement of therod 34 will result in the longitudinal movement of the attaching rod 32which will cause the link 27 and the rearwardly directed arm' 26 to beoperated whereby the headlightis turned either to the right or to theleft according to the direction of movement of the front wheels of thevehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle is making a turn to the right, the

headlights will also be turned to the right so as to lluminate theroadway.

The headlights mayalso be moved about a horizontal axis by means of aflexible eon- 40 trol rod 40 movable through a tube 41 which asillustrated in Figurefi extends through the dash 43 of the vehicle. Therear end of thecontrol rod 40 is provided with a handle 44 arrangedwithin convenient reach of the 46 operator. .The flexible control rod 40may be held in an adjusted position by means of a, locking pin 45 whichmay be received within the diagonal branches 46 of the slot whichextends longitudinally in the rear portion of the tubular member 41.Since the branches 46 of the longitudinal slot extend diagonally fromthe slotwhen the pin 45 is received in one of the branches the adjusting rod 40 is securely and positively held in a set position.

The forw rd portion of the adjusting rod 40 connectedto a crank 48extended down wardly from a transverse shaft 49 which as illustrated inFigure 1 extends across. the

radiator. of the .vehicle and is extended through ears 52formed on thebearings 9. The ears 52am engaged by collars 55 formod on thetransversely extending shaft and the outer sides of the ears are engagedby nuts 54 which cooperate with the collars 53 in mg plate securelyconnecting the shaft 49 to the bearings 9. However the shaft 49 maypartake of a rocking motion when operated by the flexible rod 40 and theconnection between the shaft and the bearings 9 braces the bearings *sothat th vibrations; Ofthe ve hicle will not loosen the headlights. J

The end portions of the shaft are provided with rearwardly directedcranks 56 connected to upwardly directed links 57 by means of pivotelements 58.

As illustrated in Figure 6 each link 57 consists of a pair of sectionshaving their upper portions formedwith sockets adapted to engage thesphere shaped head. (jO having a shank 62 connected to the rear sideofthe headlight. More specificallyvit will be seen that the upper portionof the link 57 is formed with a pair of socket members each of whichpartially receives the sphere shaped head 60 whereby to provide auniversal con nection between the headlight and the link.

The universal connection between thclinks 57 and the several headlightspermit the headlights to be turned eitherto the right or to the leftwithout-interference with the means for turnin the headlights about ahorizontal axis.

With reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing it will be seen, that the improved dirigi aleheadlight is not only provided with means whereby the headlight may beturner either to the right orto the left but also with mechanical meanswhereby the heaclightsniay be turned about a horizontal axis so thatwhen necessary the lights may be turned down.

In the form of theinvention illustrated in Figure 7 the headlight whichvisdesignated by the numeral 68 is supported by: a fork 70 havingrotatable connection with thebearing member 72 of a supporting orattach-V 73 which maybeconnected to the fender T4 of the motor vehicle. Theposition of the bearing; member 73 may be varied by the adjustment ofthe plate 76 which is held in position by means of fastening devices 78.especially adapted for use when employing the headlight on automobilesother than the Ford.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is r I 1. Adirigibleheadlight/ for automobiles comprising bearings, forks having tubularattaching portions passing through .said bearings, headlight-s carriedby said forks, shafts extending throughand securely connected. to saidtubular attaching A portions and having means whereby the same may beconnected to the steering mechanism of the automobilaand rods connectedto said bearings. i 7 2. A dirigible headlight for automobiles massescomprising bearings, forks having tubular attaching portions passingthrough said bearings, headlights carried by saidi orks, shaftsextending through and securely connected to said tubular attachingportions and having means whereby the same may be connected to thesteering mechanism of the aiitomobile, rods connected to said bearings,cranks connected to said rod, links connecting said cranks and saidheadlights, and manually controlled means for turning said rod andconsequently tilting said headlights.

In combination with a vehicle headlight, of a fork having branchessupporting the same and having a tubular attaching portion, a bearingreceiving said tubular portion, an operating shalt extending throughsaid tubular portion, and a split collar surrounding said tubularportion and having means to secure the same to said shaft Whereby themovement of the shaft operates the fork.

l In combination with a vehicle headlight, of a fork having branchessupport ing the same and having a tubular attaching portion, a bearingreceiving said tubular portion, an operating shaft extendingthrough saidtubular portion, a split collar surrounding said tubular portion andhaving meansv to secure the same to said shaft whereby the movement ofthe shaft operates the fork, and automatic means whereby the movement ofthe vehicle operates said shaft. 5. In a vehicle headlight, thecombination of a pair of vertically arranged bearing, members, of forksrotatabl extended through said bearing members and having their lowerportions terminating below the bearing members. and splitlongitudinally, gripping devices secured to the lower por tions of saidforks and limiting the upward movement of the forks, and operatingshafts extending through said forlrs and locked thereto.

6. In a dirigible headlight, the combination with a pair or" verticallyarranged bearing members, of a pair of forks having tubular portionsextending through said bearing members and terminating below the same,operating shafts extended through said tubular portions, collarssurrounding the lower portions of said tubular portions and limiting theupward movement of the forks, said collars also gripping said tubularportions with said shafts, and means connecting the bearings and havingmeans for swinging the headlights carried by said forks.

7. In a dirigible headlight, the combination with a, plurality ofvertically arranged bearing members having means whereby the same may besecured to a motor vehicle, of forks having depending; tubular portionsrotatably extended through said bearings and having their lower portionssplit longitudinally and terminating below said bearings, operatingshafts extending through said tubular portions, collars securing thesplit tubular portions to said'shaft and limiting the upward movement ofsaid tubular portions, headlights carried by said forks, and meanswhereby totilt said headlights horizontally.

ALVIE GLIDE l/VOODRUFF.

